Traction-engine



(No Model.)

W. H. SNYDER.

TRACTION ENGINE.

No. 314,072. PatentdZMar. I7, 1885L N. PETERS, Phammhugmplmr.wqslnngeon. D. c.

,Uiuirnn Srn'rns Barnier @tiene WILLIAM H. SNYDER, OF WAYS-NESBOROUGH,PENNSYLVANIA.

TRACTloN-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION fori-ning part of Letters Patent No, 314;,072, dated March17, 1885.

Applica'ion filed December Q0, 1F84. (No mrrlel.)

To all whom i 71mg/ concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM. H. SNYDER, a citizen of the United States,residing at VVaynesborough, in the county of Franklin and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSelfSteering Attachments for Traction Flowing-Engines; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact 'description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

My improvement consists of an attachment which I term a furrow-pilot,77adapted to be fapplied to the swiveling truck of an ordinarytraction-engine, when such engine is to be used for operating a gang ofplows, the furrow-pilot being provided with a runner designed to run inthe last furrow, whereby the 2O traction-engine can be automaticallysteered by such furrow-pilot. In order that my invention may be clearlyunderstood, I have illustrated in the annexed drawings, and will proceedto describe, some practical forms thereof.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a traction plowing-engine withmy invention attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3is an end elevation of the 3Q same. Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 illustratemodi.

ications of my invention.

The same letters of reference indicate identical parts in all thefigures.

The furrow-pilot illustrated in the drawings consists of a frame, B, alaterally-projecting bar, B, on the forward beam of frame B, and arunner attached to bar B'.

The runner shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 consists of a wheel, C, having aV-shaped rim,

and journaled on a stud-axle, b, of bar B', which stud-axle stands at anangle of about f orty-five degrees, s o that the V-shaped rim of wheel Ccan run 1n the angle of the furrow, as best shown in Fig. 3. Instead ofa single wheel, C,

a pair of such wheels hung on a yoke, G", as

shown in Figs. 4 and 5, may be used, the yoke being suspended at itscenter from the studaxle b. The advantage of using apair of runners isthat the furrow-pilot is not so apt to 5o be thrown out of the furrow byobstructions therein, because either one ofthe runners remains in thebottom of the furrow while the other is riding over the obstruction.

The form of the runner and the manner of suspending it may be varied.Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate a runner consisting` of a pivoted shoe, whileFig. 8 shows a ruimer consisting of a fiat-rimmed wheel turning on ahorizontal axis.

The frame of the furrow-pilot is pivotedto clips d on the axle D of theswiveling truck of the traction -engine, and` in the example illustratedprojects forward from saidaxle so that the runner of the furrow-pilotruns in advance of swiveling truck..' This position of the furrow-pilotis not essential, however.

Provision is made for an adjustment of the furrow-pilot to govern thedistance at which the traction-engine shall run along the furrow. Theprovision illustrated consists of the adj ustability of the bar B',which carries the runner, the bolts which secure the bar passing throughslots in the frame B of the furrowpilot, as shown in Fig. 2.

The swiveling truck of the traction-engine is associated with asteering-gear, preferably such as shown, which is like that described inUnited States Patent No. 243,881. In using a traction-engine providedwith a furrowpilot substantially such as described for plowing purposes,the runner is caused to hug the side of the furrow, the steering-gearbeing so held that the swiveling truck of the engine has a slighttendency to run away from the furrow. The steering-gear may then befastened, if desired, because the furrow-pilot will automatically steerthe engine in exact conformity with the line of the last furrow. Thisparticular mode of manipulating the steeringgear is not essential,because even if such gear is not so held the furrow-pilot will steer thetraction engine with sufficient accuracy and certainty for all practicalpurposes.

The furrow-pilot is hinged to the axle of the swiveling truck, first, inorder that it may follow the furrow without being infiuenced by themotions of the truck in following the inequalities of the ground, and,secondly, in order that it may be turnedup out of action.

The drawings illustrate a steam hoistinggear for lifting thefurrow-pilot, consisting of a hoisting rope or chain, E,which runs fromthe IOO forward end of the furrow-pilot over sheaves e e e2 to thecross-head]C of the piston-rod F of a steam hoisting-cylinder, F, thelatter being also used to operate the hoisting rope or 5 chain G, fromwhich the gang of plows are to be suspended in the manner described inmy application for a United States Patent filed October 18, 1884, SerialNo. 145,873. In order that the furrow-pilot may be held elevated by rethe rope or chain Eirrespective of the pistoir rod F', a loop or ring,E', is formed on it, so that it may be hooked to a hook, E2. A separatesteam hoisting-cylinder may be used for operating the hoisting rope orchain E only, as

indicated by dotted lines in Figs. l and 2.

The furrow-pilot may be applied to any known style of traction-enginewhich has a swiveling,I truck.

The details of construction and arrangement 2o may be greatly variedwithout departing` from the spirit of myinvention. At the same time Idesire to state that I do not claim, broadly, a furrow-pilot adapted toaid in steering a traction-engine in plowing. The distinguish- 1. Afurrow-pilot for traction plowing-engines adapted to be pivoted to theswivelingg,` truck thereof, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

2. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the swiveling`truck of a traction plowing-engine and the furrow-pilot pivoted thereto.1

3. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the swivelingtruck of a traction plowing-engine and the laterally-adjustablefurrow/pilot pivoted thereto.

4. The combina-tion, substantially as before set forth, of theswiveling` truck of a traction plowing-engine, the steeringgear, andthefurrow-pilot pivoted to the said truck.

5. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the swivelingtruck of a traotionenOine, the pilot pivoted thereto, andahoisting ropeor chain for lifting the pilot out of action.

In testimony whereof I 'afx my signaturein presence ot' two Witnesses.

VILLIAM H. SNYDER.

